Civil Engineer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Civil Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $108,900 a year ($52.35 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,620 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,430 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $100,840. Pay here is 11% lower than the California statewide median of $122,500. There are 3.7 civil engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $118,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for civil engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,410 | $38.18 |
| 25th percentile | $93,650 | $45.02 |
| Median | $108,900 | $52.35 |
| 75th percentile | $133,450 | $64.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,430 | $80.02 |
| Average (mean) | $118,700 | $57.07 |
Half of civil engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,075 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,537.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,188.46 |
| Weekly | $2,094.23 |
| Hourly | $52.35 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $108,900 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Civil Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $130,280 | 3,170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $130,160 | 10,990 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $130,150 | 5,590 |
| Redding, CA | $126,000 | 380 |
| Napa, CA | $123,440 | 180 |
| Vallejo, CA | $122,510 | 300 |
| Salinas, CA | $122,160 | 250 |
| Yuba City, CA | $119,990 | 460 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $119,980 | 610 |
| Fresno, CA | $119,720 | 1,250 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $118,050 | 210 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $116,990 | 610 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $115,120 | 3,510 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $111,740 | 490 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $110,210 | 720 |
| El Centro, CA | $109,490 | 120 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $108,820 | 790 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,640 | 16,340 |
| Chico, CA | $107,350 | 160 |
| Visalia, CA | $104,780 | 200 |
| Merced, CA | $102,930 | 50 |
| Modesto, CA | $101,000 | 320 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $99,910 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $99,300 | 870 |
Highest-paying states for civil engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $122,500 |
| Alaska | $114,730 |
| Washington | $110,000 |
| Massachusetts | $106,730 |
| Louisiana | $105,380 |
| Oregon | $105,250 |
| New Jersey | $104,660 |
| Nevada | $104,310 |
| New Mexico | $103,900 |
| District of Columbia | $103,880 |
See Civil Engineer pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Engineer | $119,050 | $57.24 |
| Engineers, All Other | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $156,480 | $75.23 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $121,750 | $58.54 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $174,440 | $83.87 |
| Electrical Engineer | $127,270 | $61.19 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $135,010 | $64.91 |
| Environmental Engineer | $119,390 | $57.40 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $128,270 | $61.67 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $124,740 | $59.97 |
| Materials Engineer | $124,180 | $59.70 |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $118,100 | $56.78 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $107,590 | $51.73 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $91,620 | $44.05 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a civil engineer make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for civil engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $108,900 a year, or $52.35 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,410 for the lowest-paid 10% to $166,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid civil engineers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of civil engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $166,430 a year. The top 25% earn $133,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for civil engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,410 a year, and a quarter of civil engineers earn $93,650 or less.
How many civil engineers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 5,620 civil engineers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.